{"product_id":"rachels-garden-isbn-9780425232361","title":"Rachel's Garden","description":"\u003cb\u003e An Amish widow must rely on her faith and the kindness of her close-knit community as she mends her broken heart in this compelling novel in the Pleasant Valley series. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eIt has been almost a year since the Amish community of Pleasant Valley lost Ezra Brand to a tragic accident. Since then, his wife Rachel has struggled to raise their three children and run their dairy farm...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRachel’s friends and family have come forward to help. But all of their constant advice, however well intentioned, puts undue pressure on Rachel. And when Ezra’s best friend, Gideon Zook, asks her permission to build the greenhouse that Ezra had always promised her, she finds his presence too painful a reminder of the past.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs spring turns to summer, and Rachel puts her heart into growing the plants that have always brought her joy, can she discover the courage to embrace new beginnings?\u003cb\u003ePraise for the Novels of Marta Perry\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“What a joy it is to read Marta Perry's novels!...everything a reader could want—strong, well-defined characters, beautiful, realistic settings, and a thought-provoking plot. Readers of Amish fiction will surely be waiting anxiously for her next book.”—Shelley Shepard Gray, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the Sisters of the Heart series\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A born storyteller, Marta Perry skillfully weaves the past and present in this heart-stirring tale of love and forgiveness.”—Susan Meissner, author of \u003ci\u003eSecrets of a Charmed Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Sure to appeal to fans of Beverly Lewis.”—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Perry carefully balances the traditional life of the Amish with the contemporary world in an accessible, intriguing fashion.”—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Perry crafts characters with compassion, yet with insecurities that make them relatable.”—\u003ci\u003eRT Book Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[Perry] has once again captured my heart with the gentle wisdom and heartfelt faith of the Amish community.”—Fresh FictionA lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led \u003cb\u003eMarta Perry\u003c\/b\u003e to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than fifty inspirational romance novels, including the Pleasant Valley series and the Keepers of the Promise trilogy. She lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse.Chapter One\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A flicker of movement from the lane beyond the kitchen window of      the old farmhouse caught Rachel Brand's eye as she leaned against      the sink, washing up the bowl she'd used to make a batch of      snickerdoodles. A buggy-ja, it must be Leah Glick, already      bringing home Rachel's two older kinder from the birthday party      for their teacher.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Quickly she set the bowl down and splashed cold water on her eyes.      It wouldn't do to let her young ones suspect that their mamm had      been crying while she baked. Smoothing her hair back under her      kapp and arranging a smile on her lips, she went to the back door.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But the visitor was not Leah. It was a man, alone, driving the      buggy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Shock shattered her curiosity when she recognized the strong face      under the brim of the black Amish hat. Gideon Zook. Her fingers      clenched, wrinkling the fabric of her dark apron. What did he want      from her?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She stood motionless for a moment, her left hand tight on the door      frame. Then she grabbed the black wool shawl that hung by the      door, threw it around her shoulders, and stepped outside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The cold air sent a shiver through her. It was mid-March already,      but winter had not released its grip on Pleasant Valley,      Pennsylvania. The snowdrops she had planted last fall quivered      against the back step, their white cups a mute testimony that      spring would come eventually. Everything else was as brown and      barren as her heart felt these days.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A fierce longing for spring swept through her as she crossed the      still-hard ground. If she could be in the midst of growing things,      planting and nurturing her beloved garden-ach, there she might      find the peace she longed for.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Everything was too quiet on the farm now. Even the barn was empty,      the dairy cows already moved to the far field, taken care of by      her young brother-in-law William in the early morning hours.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Belgian draft horses Ezra had been so pleased to be able to      buy were spending the winter at the farm of his oldest brother,      Isaac. Only Dolly, six-year-old Joseph's pet goat, bleated      forlornly from her pen, protesting his absence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Gideon had tethered his horse to the hitching post. Removing      something from his buggy, he began pacing across the lawn, as if      he measured something.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Then he saw her. He stopped, waiting. His hat was pushed back, and      he lifted his face slightly, as if in appreciation of the watery      sunshine. But Gideon's broad shoulders were stiff under his black      jacket, his eyes wary, and his mouth set above his beard.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Reluctance slowed her steps. Perhaps Gideon felt that same      reluctance. Aside from the formal words of condolence he'd spoken      to her once he was well enough to be out again after the accident,      she and Gideon had managed to avoid talking to each other for      months. That was no easy thing in a tight-knit Amish community.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She forced a smile. \"Gideon, wilkom. I didn't expect to be seeing      you today.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What are you doing here? That was what she really wanted to say.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Rachel.\" He inclined his head slightly, studying her face as if      trying to read her feelings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His own face gave little away-all strong planes and straight      lines, like the wood he worked with in his carpentry business.      Lines of tension radiated from his brown eyes, making him look      older than the thirty-two she knew him to be. His work-hardened      hands tightened on the objects he grasped-small wooden stakes,      sharpened to points.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He cleared his throat, as if not sure what to say to her now that      they were face-to-face. \"How are you? And the young ones?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm well.\" Except that her heart twisted with pain at the sight      of him, at the reminder he brought of all she had lost. \"The      kinder also. Mary is napping, and Leah Glick took Joseph and Becky      to a birthday luncheon the scholars are having for Mary Yoder.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Gut, gut.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He moved a step closer to her, and she realized that his left leg      was still stiff-a daily reminder for him, probably, of the      accident.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e For an instant the scene she'd imagined so many times flashed yet      again through her mind, stealing her breath away. She seemed to      see Ezra, high in the rafters of a barn, Gideon below him, the old      timbers creaking, then breaking, Ezra falling as the barn      collapsed like a house of cards . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She gasped a strangled breath, like a fish struggling on the bank      of the pond. Revulsion wrung her stomach, and she slammed the door      shut on her imagination.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She could not let herself think about that, not now. It was not      Gideon's fault that she couldn't see him without imagining the      accident that had taken Ezra away from them. She had to talk to      him sensibly, had to find out what had brought him here. And how      she could get him to go away again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She clutched the shawl tighter around her. \"Is there something I      can do for you, Gideon?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I am here to measure for the greenhouse.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She could only stare at him, her mind fumbling to process his      words. The greenhouse-the greenhouse Ezra had promised her as a      birthday present. That had to be what Gideon meant.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How do you know about the greenhouse?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The words came out unexpectedly harsh. Ezra was gone, and plans      for the greenhouse had slipped away, too, swamped in the struggle      just to get through the days.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He blinked, apparently surprised. \"You didn't know? Ezra and I      went together to buy the materials for your greenhouse. He asked      me to build it for you. Now I'm here to start on the work.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The revulsion that swept through her was so strong she could      barely prevent it from showing on her face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Perhaps he knew anyway. The fine lines around his eyes deepened.      \"Is there a problem with that?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"No-I mean, I didn't realize that he had asked you. Ezra never      said so.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Perhaps he thought there was no need. I always helped him with      carpentry projects.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e True enough. It wasn't that Ezra couldn't build things with his      own hands, but he was far more interested in the crops and the      animals. Since his childhood friend Gideon was a carpenter,      specializing in building the windmills that had begun to dot the      valley, Ezra had depended on him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But that was before. Now . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now the thought of having Gideon around for days while he built      the greenhouse that was to have been a gift of love from her      husband-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No, she couldn't handle that. She couldn't. It was, no doubt about      it, a failure on her part, one that she should be taking to the      Lord in prayer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Rachel?\" She had been silent too long, and Gideon studied her      face with concern. \"Was ist letz? What's the matter?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Nothing,\" she said quickly. \"Nothing at all. It's just that I      hadn't thought about the greenhouse in months.\" Her voice      thickened-she couldn't help that.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Gideon heard it, of course. A spasm of something that might have      been pain crossed his face.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"It gave Ezra great pleasure to think about giving it to you.\" His      deep voice seemed choked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She blinked, focusing her gaze on the barn beyond him, willing      herself to be calm. Think. What could she say that would not hurt      Gideon, but would get him to go away?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I haven't-I haven't decided what to do about the greenhouse.\" As      she hadn't decided so many things in the past few months, lost as      she'd been in grief. \"Will you give me a little time to think?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Of course.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But his voice had cooled, as if he knew something of what she was      feeling. His gaze was intent on her face, probing for the truth,      and all she could think was that she wanted him to leave so that      she didn't have to talk about the bittersweet nature of Ezra's      last gift to her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The creak of an approaching buggy broke the awkward silence      between them. She glanced toward the lane.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Here is Leah, back with the children.\" She probably sounded too      relieved as she turned back to him. \"Perhaps we could talk about      this some other day.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His expression still grave, Gideon nodded. \"Ja, another time,      then.\" He turned away, but then glanced back over his shoulder. \"I      promised Ezra, ain't so? I have to keep that promise.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He walked toward his waiting buggy, his back stiff.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Leah shook her head, cradling between her hands the mug of tea      Rachel had given her. ÒI donÕt understand. Why are you so      ferhoodled at the idea of Gideon putting up the greenhouse for      you? HeÕd do a good job, thatÕs certain sure.Ó\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ja, he would.\" She couldn't argue with that. Everyone knew how      skilled a carpenter Gideon was. \"I just . . . it makes me feel . .      . makes me remember . . .\" Her voice trailed off.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Leah reached across the scrubbed pine kitchen table to cover      Rachel's hand with her own. \"It's hard, I know. I'm sorry.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Ach, I'm being foolish.\" She shook her head, determined not to      slide into burdening Leah with her sorrow and her worries. She'd      done that enough lately. She freed her hand and stood. \"I think      I'd best take a look out at those children. I haven't heard any      noise from them in a while.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Three-year-old Mary, building a house with her favorite blocks in      the corner of the kitchen, chose that moment to knock it over,      chortling when the blocks crashed to the floor. Leah laughed, and      Rachel shook her head.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Plenty of noise in here, though. Mary, pick those up, please.      It'll be time to help with supper soon.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I set the table,\" Mary announced, and began to pick up the      blocks, putting them in her wagon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rachel leaned against the sink to peer out the window over the      plants that crowded the sill. Her daughter Becky and Leah's      stepdaughter, Elizabeth, seemed to be in a deep conversation, side      by side on the wide swing that hung from the willow tree. Her      first-grader Joseph and Leah's Jonah, who was a year older, were      romping with Dolly, the nanny goat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"All seems well at the moment.\" She sat down again, pushing the      plate of snickerdoodles toward Leah.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's usually when they're the most ready to get into mischief,\"      Leah said. She took another cookie, sighing a little. \"I shouldn't      eat this, but it tastes like more. Since the morning sickness      finally went away, I've been eating everything in sight.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rachel studied Leah's glowing face. \"Being pregnant agrees with      you, for sure. I've never seen you look better.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Leah shook her head, smiling a little, and patted her rounded      belly. \"I look like a hippo.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'll bet Daniel doesn't think so.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Leah's cheeks grew pink, but instead of answering, she shoved the      plate of cookies back toward Rachel. \"You have another. You need      all the energy you can get.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Leah undoubtedly thought she had grown too thin in the past      months, just as her mamm did, but Leah was too kind to say so      outright.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was strange, how much their situations had changed. A year ago      Leah had been the devoted teacher at the Amish school, single and      content to remain so, while Rachel had been completely occupied as      a wife and mother, helping Ezra to run the farm, far too busy to      think about anything else.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Now they'd switched places, it seemed. Leah was happily married to      Daniel Glick, instant mother to his three children, and glowing      with the joy of her pregnancy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As for her-Ezra was gone, and she struggled to raise their      children without him, caught in a web of indecision about the      future.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Leah must have guessed at her thoughts, because her green eyes      darkened with concern as she leaned toward Rachel. \"Are you all      right? Are you getting enough help? Daniel would be glad to come      over, or we could send Matthew to do chores.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's gut of you, but we are managing to get everything done.      There's not so much this time of the year. William comes every day      to deal with the milking, and he's so willing to do anything he      can. I think it helps him with his grief, knowing that he's doing      what Ezra would have wanted.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She didn't need to explain further. They both knew how Ezra's shy      younger brother had loved him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"He's probably glad to get out from under Isaac's thumb a couple      of times a day,\" Leah said, her tone tart.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rachel had to hesitate for a moment to think of something positive      to say about Ezra's oldest brother. \"Isaac means well, I'm sure.      He just believes he's the head of the family now, and so everyone      should heed what he says.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm convinced William's stuttering wouldn't be nearly so bad if      Isaac listened and encouraged him instead of snapping orders at      him.\" Leah spoke like the teacher she had been for so many years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I try to do as you suggested, listening to him and making him      feel comfortable, and I do think he speaks more when he's here      with us.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's good. I'm glad it's helping. I used to get so frustrated      when he was one of my scholars and I'd see his sisters speaking      for him, instead of helping him try.\" For a moment she studied      Rachel's face, as if she hadn't been distracted from her concern      by the talk of William. \"Still, you will let us pitch in, any way      we can.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I will.\" Rachel could feel her forehead wrinkling into the frown      that came too often these days, and she tried to smooth it out.      \"The real problem is that I can't seem to make up my mind about      anything. I was spoiled.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Spoiled?\" Leah's eyebrows lifted. \"That's silly.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I was. My life went so smoothly. You know that. I loved Ezra and      he loved me, we were able to buy the farm from my aunt and uncle,      the children came along easy and healthy-everything went the way I      wanted it to. Until the day Ezra and Gideon went off to look at      that barn.\" Her hands clenched so tightly that her knuckles were      white.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Leah put her hand gently over Rachel's. \"Is that why you don't      want Gideon to build the greenhouse? Because you blame him for      Ezra's accident?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Rachel shook her head, tears choking her throat. \"I don't know.      Forgive, that's what God commands. Besides, it was an accident, no      one's fault. Everyone knows that. But when I see him-\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She broke off. She couldn't explain to Leah. She couldn't even      explain to herself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Forgiveness is only right, but our Father must know it is hard.      But Ezra and Gideon were as close friends as you and I are,\" Leah      said, her voice gentle. \"You know he wouldn't want you to hold      Gideon at fault.\"","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302578901221,"sku":"NP9780425232361","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425232361.jpg?v=1767735334","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/rachels-garden-isbn-9780425232361","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}